College of Idaho Picked to Win Conference Women's Cross Country Title
LA GRANDE, Ore. –The College of Idaho earned all 10 first place votes and are the unanimous selection by the Cascade Conference coaches to win the 2012 team title.
The Yotes earned 100 points to secure the number one spot and were followed by Northwest Christian with 82 points. Concordia and Southern Oregon rounded out the top four with 79 and 73 points respectively. Eastern Oregon (64), Northwest (43), and Corban (40) were picked fifth through seventh with Oregon Tech (39), Warner Pacific (19),and Evergreen (11) filling the final three spots.
Reigning Coach of the Year, Pat McCurry leads a team poised to repeat as CCC champions. The College of Idaho has won three of the last four conference titles. The Yotes placed 9
th at the NAIA national meet in 2011 behind the strength of key returners Sora Kloptenstein and Hilary Holt. Both were NAIA All-Americans last year with Kloptenstein placing 10
th and Holt 18
th at nationals. Sara Johnson, an All-Conference selection last year, also returns to a strong Yote squad.
Close behind in the poll are the Beacons of Northwest Christian University. NCU led a strong CCC contingent at nationals in 2011 finishing in 4
th place overall. Concordia University is picked to finish at No. 3 in 2012. CU placed 9
th at last year’s nationals solidifying the CCC as one of the strongest conferences in the country for women’s cross country.
The Cascade Conference Championships will be held at Lents Park in Portland, Oregon on November 3rd. Warner Pacific College will serve as the host school. The winner of the meet will earn the automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships will be held in Vancouver, Washington on November 17
th.
Women’s Cross Country Preseason Poll |
Team |
Points |
1. College of Idaho (10) |
100 |
2. Northwest Christian |
82 |
3. Concordia |
79 |
4. Southern Oregon |
73 |
5.Eastern Oregon |
64 |
6.Northwest |
43 |
7. Corban |
40 |
8. Oregon Tech |
39 |
9. Warner Pacific |
19 |
10. Evergreen |
11 |
First place votes in parentheses |